​At the worst possible moment, Belgium’s fortunes deserting them seemed almost inevitable as they endured a heartbreaking exit from the FIFA World Cup at the hands of Spain. Mikel Merino delivered the decisive blow in the 88th minute when Arsenal’s midfield standout struck from long range after goalkeeper Senne Lammens, brought on in the second half following an injury to Thibaut Courtois, failed to cling onto the attempt. Yet the drama that preceded Merino’s finish tilted heavily against Belgium for most of the evening.
Viewed by many as underdogs, despite Belgium’s European champions’ status and a World Cup campaign that had yet to reveal its best form, the team faced a setback even before kick-off when captain Youri Tielemans was forced to withdraw from the starting XI due to injury, a late change reported by The Mirror. The setback did not dampen Belgium’s attacking aspirations, and they did exert pressure, but Spain dominated the early stages and were repeatedly able to test Belgium’s resolve.
Spain took the lead in the 30th minute through a well-worked finish. Dani Olmo connected with a low cross from Pedro Porro, but Thibaut Courtois could only push the ball into the path of Fabián Ruiz, who made no mistake at close range to break the deadlock. Although the breakthrough moment suggested Spain might surge into a higher gear, Belgium were not done yet. Lamine Yamal, in dazzling form, nearly doubled Spain’s advantage with a precise finish that struck the side netting after his incisive footwork threatened to unlock the visitors’ defense. Yet just as Spain appeared ready to cement their control, Belgium struck to level the match, ending Unai Simón’s impressive stretch of clean sheets.
Charles De Ketelaere found space to guide a header past Simón, finishing off a cross from the left and ending the Spanish goalkeeper’s remarkable 649-minute streak without conceding at previous World Cup fixtures. The equalizer sent a jolt through the Belgian side and lit a spark across the arena as Rudi Garcia’s team pressed forward with renewed energy. Belgium’s offense continued to threaten in the early stages of the second half, with Maxim De Cuyper firing a shot against the woodwork and later collapsing to his knees, distraught after another missed opportunity in a moment that underscored the mounting frustration around Spain’s fragile defensive displays.
The second period was a back-and-forth affair, with Yamal immediately testing Courtois, and the match oscillating as both teams attempted to seize the initiative in a tense, closely contested battle. Spain remained in relative control, but Belgium’s persistence paid dividends for a period as the game opened up and the tempo increased. The match’s momentum shifted again when Courtois had to be substituted after suffering an injury that forced him to sit down for treatment. The Benfica man, who had stood tall in previous big moments for Belgium, departed the field in visible distress, his involvement cut short by the physical toll of a bruising encounter.
Lammens took the field in place of the injured keeper, aiming to preserve Belgium’s momentums in the closing stages. In a cruel twist, his attempt to punch away a long-range strike saw the ball slip through his fingers, allowing Merino to pounce and finish from close range, securing Spain’s advantage once more just minutes before the final whistle. It was a moment that spotlighted the unforgiving nature of world football, particularly at the decisive stages of major tournaments, and a misjudged save by the young substitute sealed Belgium’s fate.
This defeat marked a painful, comprehensive end to Belgium’s campaign, a narrative underscored by a night of near misses, disciplined Spanish pressing, and a late, unforgiving strike from Merino that ensured Spain progressed with a victory earned through persistence and clinical finishing. For Belgium, the night left them to reflect on a campaign that promised much but delivered heartbreak at the worst possible moment, a reminder that in football, often the difference between triumph and tragedy is measured in the splitting seconds of a single, decisive moment.